I have this dilemma - I have two servicable bike on which to complete a 750 mile tour next May, one a £200 Decathlon road bike, the other an old tange 1000 chromo MTB frame made up to a tourer with 700 x35 wheels, brooks saddle, and butterfly bars.
I ride my road bike, and really enjoy the sensation of the bike actually wanting to go. It's fun, and much as it's more difficlt to ride in that I have to anticipate the road surface more, and is more uncomfortable in that it's got an aluminium frame and my hands tend to numb quicker on the bars, I just enjoy it.
WHen I get on my dedicated tourer, however, it just seems like hard work. I never get that sensation of the bike wanting to go. I always seems to be plodding on it. It absically feels like harder work.
The tourer is heavier _ I recon by 5 lbs, and the tyres will drag more, just by being bigger, but I still feel there's something else that's making it such hard work.
My last concern is gearing. Now I have to say, I know nothing about ratios etc and how they affect riding except that a big cog on the back combined with a small one on the front, and visa versa, will make life easier or more difficult.
My highest gearing is - 38 x 14 (that is, the biggest chainring is 38, and the smallest gear is 14). I have a feeling that because I've got a MTB chainring and a more of a road freewheel, things are getting messed up. Could that be the case?
I ride my road bike, and really enjoy the sensation of the bike actually wanting to go. It's fun, and much as it's more difficlt to ride in that I have to anticipate the road surface more, and is more uncomfortable in that it's got an aluminium frame and my hands tend to numb quicker on the bars, I just enjoy it.
WHen I get on my dedicated tourer, however, it just seems like hard work. I never get that sensation of the bike wanting to go. I always seems to be plodding on it. It absically feels like harder work.
The tourer is heavier _ I recon by 5 lbs, and the tyres will drag more, just by being bigger, but I still feel there's something else that's making it such hard work.
My last concern is gearing. Now I have to say, I know nothing about ratios etc and how they affect riding except that a big cog on the back combined with a small one on the front, and visa versa, will make life easier or more difficult.
My highest gearing is - 38 x 14 (that is, the biggest chainring is 38, and the smallest gear is 14). I have a feeling that because I've got a MTB chainring and a more of a road freewheel, things are getting messed up. Could that be the case?